Over the past few months we have been working on establishing a photographic society to extend the reach of the Imagine Me project and further support artists with disability.

On Saturday the 5th of December we had a meeting at Customs House in the city, during which we discussed our progress and further ideas for the Imagine Me Photographic Society. We also had presentations of photography by Imagine Me lead artist Sue Murray and past participant Alan Aldrich (these were recorded and will be available soon on the IMPS Google+ page).

So what is the Imagine Me Photographic Society?

﻿﻿The proposal is to establish an Imagine Me Photographic Society (IMPS) that will be artist with disability led, but with an integrated approach with participation of non-disabled photographers to foster a collaborative exchange of ideas between people with and without a disability and to encourage engagement of the families and/or carers of people with disability to participate. ​

The society will support participants of Imagine Me workshops to continue developing their individual creative practice. The IMPS will foster professional opportunities for artists with disability, and assist in building their capacity and new creative skills in photography and digital-image making. ​

Alan and Sue presenting at the meeting

The IMPS will create a platform and network where information can be shared about new technologies that enhance the abilities of people with a disability to participate and develop their individual photographic practice. The society will encourage a creative practice that emphasises experimentation and expression of ideas. We will encourage a high standard of photographic art that can be displayed and shared to members through the creation of an online portfolio.

The society will operate using Google+ communities as a platform, and to join you must be invited (to protect the privacy of our members).

If you interested in joining the IMPS, please send us an email including your name and email address and we will send you an invitation!

Friday the 4th of December was the opening night of the Imagine Me exhibition at the Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre.

This was my speech given on the night:

"Thanks so much to Kiersten and all the staff at Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre for inviting Imagine Me to be exhibited for International Day for People with Disability.

In 2013 Accessible Arts, funded Imagine Me to pilot a workshop using adapted technology that enables someone with quadriplegia to control a digital camera and to create a self portrait. Working collaboratively each person is assisted in visualising their experiences of disability.

Since 2013 I have run numerous workshops with over 60 people and this year, I partnered with Royal Rehab to run Imagine Me in a number of rural NSW towns. Funding was from Australia Council and Arts NSW through the Lifetime Care and Support Authority.

Imagine Me continually develops and adapts to enable greater access for people with varying levels of ability. Apps on a touch screen device that enables a direct pathway from photo to final image will be used in 2016.

Imagine Me is inspired by the courage and resilience of people living with spinal cord injury and this exhibition encourages a deeper understanding toward people living with disability.

Imagine me would not be possible without the generous funding from: Australia Council for the Arts, NSW Government through the Lifetime Care and Support Authority and Arts NSW, Accessible Arts, NSW Government, Department of Family & Community Services, Spinal Cord Injury Australia, Slater and Gordon"

The Imagine Me exhibition will still be up until the 31st of January 2016, so if you haven't had a chance to see it yet please take the time to go out there and have a look. The Casula Powerhouse is a beautiful space, it is a great opportunity to see the work up close and personal, and support the project!

Thanks to Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre and everyone who came along on the night.